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Harriet Congdon DiMartino passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, at her home in Franklin. She was one day short of 103 years and 9 months old. In December 2023, she became the holder of the Boston Post Cane an honor bestowed upon the oldest living resident in the Town of Franklin.
Harriet was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire on April 18, 1922, to the late Frederick and Cora (Parker) Congdon. She was raised in Lancaster where she excelled both academically and as a star basketball player at Lancaster Academy. Harriet continued her education and was a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she met the love of her life, the late Dominic D. DiMartino. While Dom was serving as an Army officer during WWII in the China Burma India Theater,Harriet taught school in Berlin, NH and The Catskills NY. Upon Dom’s return, they were married in June, 1946 and enjoyed 66 years of marriage until Dom’s passing in 2012.
Harriet and Dom moved from Hyde Park to Franklin in 1950 where they built their home and raised their five children. Along with being a mother to her children, Harriet was co-owner, Vice President and bookkeeper for the D. DiMartino Construction Company in Franklin, from 1962 until her retirement in 1985.
Every summer, the day after school ended, she loaded up the children, her mom, and family dog in the beach wagon and headed to West Falmouth where the family spent most summers at the cottage built by Dom in 1954. Upon retiring, she and Dom spent 6 months of the year at their condominium in Hollywood, Florida, where Harriet served as treasurer of the condo association. Beginning in 1995, summers were spent at their “new” home in West Falmouth built adjacent to the cottage. And of course, they found their way home to Franklin for a few weeks every year. Since 2018, Harriet had resided in her home in Franklin full-time and enjoyed spending a month or so in West Falmouth every summer.
Harriet and Dom were devout Catholics and communicants of St. Mary’s Church in Franklin, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in North Falmouth and St. Matthews in Hollywood, FL, and enjoyed activities at each parish. Fantastic ballroom dancers: they would jump at any chance to dance and were fun to watch as they glided around in perfect unison.
A gifted baker of pies and cookies, there was rarely an empty cookie jar in Harriet’s kitchen. She was a crossword puzzle whiz, enjoyed a good book and was a “passionate fan” of the New England Patriots (former 25-year season ticket holder), the Boston Red Sox and the UCONN Women’s Basketball team.
Over the past 4 years, Harriet was blessed to have many angels in her life: Her devoted caregivers, Bless and Frieda, and the whole team at Care Resolutions, Eucharistic Minister, Marge Rettman, and the wonderful nurses of Old Colony Hospice Care.
Harriet is survived by her five children: Mary Ellen Deschenes of Noank, CT, Carol Irwin and husband, John, of Salem, CT, Debra DiMartino of Norfolk, MA, Donald DiMartino and his wife, Christine, of Franklin, MA and David DiMartino of Franklin, MA. She was the beloved Grammie of Laura Deschenes, Molly Deschenes, Hillary (Irwin) Moran, Sarah Jane (Irwin) Wells, Corrine (Byrne) Fleury, Sean Byrne, Benjamin DiMartino, Shannon DiMartino, and Nicholas DiMartino. Great Grandmother (GG) to Morgan Fleury, Connor Fleury, Malcolm Wells, Samuel Wells, Desmond Wells, James Moran, Geoffrey Moran and Leo Gordon. She was the loving aunt of Kathy Rolfe, and Marilyn Sidotti and was the dear Sister-in-Law of Kathleen (DiMartino) Cibotti and her husband, Thomas of West Falmouth. She was Aunt and Great Aunt to many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
In addition to her late husband and parents, Harriet was predeceased in death by her sister, Myrtle Rolfe and her husband, Ben C. Rolfe, daughter-in-law, Jane DiMartino, son-in-law, Paul Deschenes and brother and sister in-laws: Joseph and Sandy DiMartino, Joseph and Marion Jacobs, and Mickey and Elda Paolucci, cherished cousin, Kay Congdon (Sister Francis St. Mary, SND) and dear friend of many years, Lorena Fitzgerald.
A funeral mass at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in North Falmouth and burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne will be held at a later date.
The Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. is honored to assist the DiMartino family. Guestbook www.franklinfuneral.com
